Sugarplum Table Runner Quilt-along—Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the Sugarplum Table Runner Quilt-along.Last week we made (2) Modern Pine Trees quilt blocks and (2) Poinsettia Flowers quilt blocks.Some of you foundation paper pieced for the first time—yay!Today, we are going to jump right back into that technique with (2) Snowflakes quilt blocks.We will also be traditionally piecing (1) Golden Star quilt block.Let’s get started!

Sugarplum Table Runner Quilt-Along—Week 3

Instructions to Make the Snowflakes Quilt Blocks

The Snowflakes quilt block is Foundation Paper Pieced.Reduce your stitch length so that the paper template will perforate easily when you are finished. I used 1.4mm stitch length on my BERNINA 770 QE.

Collect the fabric you cut for the Snowflakes quilt blocks in Week 1, as well as the (4) copies each of Snowflakes Template A and Snowflakes Template B, printed at “100%” or “Actual Size”.Be sure to check the scaling ruler on the template to ensure it printed correctly.

Let’s start with Template A:

Step 1: Select (1) 2-3/4″ x 7″ Kona Bahama Blue rectangle (Template Piece 1A) and place it right side out on the back of your template, making sure to cover the entire area of Template Space 1A. Pin or glue stick into place.

Step 2: Select (1) 3″ x 4-1/2″ White rectangle (Template Piece 2A). Place it right sides together to Template Piece 1A, which you pinned into place in Step 1. Hold your template up to the light and make sure at least 1/4″ of the white fabric overlaps into Template Space 2A. This will probably feel backwards and wrong the first few times you do it—don’t worry!Pin or hold into place.

Step 3: Sew along the seam line on the template between Template Pieces 1A and 2A. Be sure to sew a bit into the seam allowance.You may also backstitch at the beginning and end. Remove your pins.

Step 4: Trim your seam allowance to 1/4″.I do this by folding the paper away on the stitched line, and using my quilting ruler to measure 1/4″ away from the stitched line.

Step 5: Your block should now look as shown below.

Press your fabric open.

Step 6: Select your fabric cut for Template Piece 3A. Place it right side together to Template Piece 1A. Just like in Step 2, hold your template up to the light and make sure at least 1/4″ of the fabric overlaps into Template Space 1. Pin or hold into place.

Step 7: Sew along the seam line on the template, once again remembering to sew a bit into the seam allowance.

Step 8: Trim the seam allowance and press your fabric open.

Step 9: Repeat this process for Template Piece 4A.

Step 10: Once you have pieced and pressed all your Template Pieces, your block should look something like above.

Flip your block so the printer paper is face up.

Step 11: Using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter, trim your blocks to the 1/4″ seam allowance. This seam allowance is included on your printed template, however I still like to measure 1/4″ away from the block line to ensure accuracy. (When cutting out paper piecing templates, it can be easy to accidentally cut away some of the printed seam allowance guide.)

Step 12: Repeat Steps 1 – 11 and piece (3) additional Snowflakes Template A units for a total of (4) Snowflakes Template A units.At this point, I like to remove my paper before sewing my units together.This is a personal preference.Optionally, you may remove your paper after assembling the block.

Let’s now piece with Template B.

Step 13: Following the same foundation paper piecing technique used in Steps 1 – 12, piece your (4) Snowflakes Template B units using the fabric you cut for Template B in Week 1.